Shasta Dam Fish Passage:the Challenges of Change

The large dams surrounding California’s Central Valley have reduced spring-run Chinook Salmon habitat by approximately 80%. In addition, construction of Shasta Dam has nearly eliminated historical spawning habitat for winter-run Chinook Salmon, which are endemic to the Sacramento River. Maintaining cold water for release into the lower portion of the watersheds is becoming increasingly difficult, given the ongoing drought and the potential climate change impacts on Central Valley California streams and reservoirs. Therefore, it is imperative that opportunities to provide salmonid species access to cold water habitat above these dams are assessed.

A Pilot Program has begun to determine the feasibility of providing fish passage at Shasta Dam, which blocks access to the cold water tributaries above Shasta Lake. Challenges associated with this effort include working with an endangered species, perceived impacts to a world class trout sportfishery and timber harvest practices, pathogen concerns, adult and juvenile collection and transport, competing water interests, and public perception. Addressing these challenges and providing solutions is essential to the evaluation fish passage at Shasta Lake, and the persistence of winter-run Chinook Salmon in California.